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feelinwitchy's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual harassment, Animal death, Violence, Sexism, Misogyny, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Blood
Minor: War, Vomit, Genocide, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, and Alcohol
sarahbythebook's review
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!
A rerelease of a 1991 novel, O Caledonia follows the coming of age of Janet. Janet is a young girl that is struggling to fit in to every aspect of her life in Scotland. From her family to her school to society at large, nowhere feels comfortable or easy. Her life is cut short, though, when she is murdered in her own home at the age of 16.
This is not a whodunnit. It is a mix of a coming of age story and gothic romanticism. The prose of the story and the descriptions of Scotland are hauntingly beautiful, but this book ultimately was a miss for me. The main character is unlikeable, but I found it impossible not to pity her. Her mother openly dislikes her (and all of her children?) because she is so different. Janet doesn't make things easy for herself, going out of the way to stand out in negative ways. And while it is not the point of the book, her ultimate demise at the end of the novel just made no real sense.
If you like tragic stories, this may land better for you. It did rekindle that everburning flame in me to visit Scotland again.
TW: Murder, child neglect, animal death
A rerelease of a 1991 novel, O Caledonia follows the coming of age of Janet. Janet is a young girl that is struggling to fit in to every aspect of her life in Scotland. From her family to her school to society at large, nowhere feels comfortable or easy. Her life is cut short, though, when she is murdered in her own home at the age of 16.
This is not a whodunnit. It is a mix of a coming of age story and gothic romanticism. The prose of the story and the descriptions of Scotland are hauntingly beautiful, but this book ultimately was a miss for me. The main character is unlikeable, but I found it impossible not to pity her. Her mother openly dislikes her (and all of her children?) because she is so different. Janet doesn't make things easy for herself, going out of the way to stand out in negative ways. And while it is not the point of the book, her ultimate demise at the end of the novel just made no real sense.
If you like tragic stories, this may land better for you. It did rekindle that everburning flame in me to visit Scotland again.
TW: Murder, child neglect, animal death
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Murder
waybeyondblue's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Animal cruelty, Sexual harassment, and Animal death
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